Ansaldo Energia solutions

for Hydrogen combustion:

fast-forward to a Hydrogen Fueled Future
Thanks to fast-paced technological advancements, the world is embracing new energy
visions featuring hydrogen as a key driver in the energy transition, and so are plant owners,
who are called to play a vital role in enabling the creation of an integrated, secure, environmentally
sustainable energy system.
New renewables-driven scenarios envisage great opportunities to reduce cost and overcome
barriers preventing green hydrogen from being a true game-changer in solving the security,
storability and carbon neutrality challenges affecting the current energy landscape.
Despite there are still several steps to be taken at different levels to tear down the barriers to
a hydrogen economy, the global energy landscape is turning in this direction. With hydrogen
projected to meet increasing shares of the energy demand and the cost of green hydrogen
production expected to drop sharply over the coming decades, a hydrogen-fueled future might
be closer than we think.
Based on two different technological platforms, Ansaldo Energia offers solutions to best suit
each Customer’s generation profile: its versatile gas turbines are capable to burn any hydrogen-
natural gas blend as shown in the below table and they can comfortably handle intermittent or
fluctuating H2 supply maintaining full adherence to NOx emission requirements.

Ansaldo Energia solutions for burning hydrogen

Technology Application in Gas Turbine H2 Capability: NOx Emissions
(No hardware modification any blend between 0 [ppmv @15%O2, dry gases]
on gas turbine) up to max [vol %] (No additional device for flue gas treatment)

Sequential
GT36 New and service 50 15
Combustion
Sequential
GT26 New and service 30 15
Combustion
Single Stage
AE94.3A New and service* 25 25
Combustion
Single Stage
AE94.2 New and service* 25 25
Combustion
*including V94.3A/V94.2 technology
SEQUENTIAL COMBUSTION
HYDROGEN, NO COMPROMISE

T he main challenge of hydrogen combustion lies in its properties, first and foremost its
increased reactivity. Compared to natural gas, during H2 combustion the flame position moves
upstream, thus increasing the risk of flashback. All conventional combustion systems fail to
handle hydrogen’s special features without compromising performance: by injecting less fuel,
flashback risks are mitigated and the flame is moved back to the design position, but exit
temperature gets lower and performance is severely reduced.
Ansaldo Energia developed a unique, unrivalled, state-of the-art technology solution for safely
burning very high H2 contents while preserving top-level performance.
Ansaldo Energia’s sequential combustion employs two combustor stages in series: one
conventional stage followed by an auto-ignited second stage overcoming the limits of traditional
combustion systems. A shift of fuel from the first to the second stage compensates the higher
hydrogen reactivity on both stages: the first stage flame location is maintained thanks to its
lower temperature, while the resulting lower inlet temperature of the second stage keeps its
flame at the desired location despite an increased fuel flow. This is possible because the second
stage flame is stabilized by auto-ignition, strongly driven by the inlet temperature and less
sensitive to the flame temperature which can be maintained at full F and H class levels. This is
key in unleashing H2 combustion’s full potential.

Ansaldo Energia has been at the forefront of hydrogen combustion development

for many years, joining prominent European and international development
projects. During their development both the GT26 and the new GT36 gas
turbine combustors underwent detailed validation under full engine
pressure at the DLR (German Aerospace Institute) in Cologne.
Ansaldo Energia gas turbines and retrofit combustors can cope with any
H2-methane blend up to still unmatched maximum H2 volume content up
to 50%, with no need to change or adapt the existing hardware.
This become particularly important when H2 availability fluctuates due to
intermittent production from renewables.
SINGLE STAGE COMBUSTION
HYDROGEN, OUR EXPERIENCE

T he single stage combustion is the typical configuration of the AE94.3A and AE94.2 gas
turbines which, with millions of service hours, stand for one of the most representative fleets in
the power generation field. Two AE94.3A, capable of burning a blend of natural gas and 15%
H2 by volume, started commercial operation in early 2006 in a combined cycle plant served
by a refinery, reaching 215,000 EOH, using standard hardware with no special fuel system
adaptation. Smooth, trouble-free operation and highly stable combustion behavior allowed for
a gradual increase of the mixture’s hydrogen content in several steps up to reach now 25% with
a potential saving of 100,000 tons/year of CO2 assuming a base load operating profile.

Known for its superior flexibility and originally designed for mastering the combustion of
unconventional fuels, the AE94.2 was the natural choice for the following dedicated validation
campaign.
With more than 500,000 EOH running on hydrogen-rich fuels from refineries, steelworks or
other chemical plants and capable to burn almost unlimited quantities of H2 mixed with steam
or other NOx abatement aggregates in diffusion mode, the AE94.2K provided a solid ground
on which to build a fleet of gas turbines with enhanced hydrogen combustion capabilities.
Thanks to the combination of AE94.2K’s long-standing experience in syngas-fueled operation
with the excellent results achieved with the AE94.3A, customers are now offered the possibility
to burn H2 in the same way as natural gas, with no need to use steam and keeping NOx in
compliance with legal requirements.
Indeed, the AE94.3A and AE94.2 are currently capable of burning 25% of H2 in premix mode,
with the possibility of an increase up to 40% in the near future.
 INSTALLED FLEET

Petercom
HYDROGEN, FUTURE PROOF YOUR ASSETS


Ansaldo Energia can offer a wide range of specific solutions for the

03/2020
installed and operating gas turbines to increase the amount of hydrogen

Stampa: Microart Avegno - Genova

that can be burnt in an installed plant, lowering emissions and reducing
the overall carbon footprint. Ansaldo Energia gas turbines and combustor
upgrades can cope with extremely broad H2-methane blend up to still
unmatched maximum H2 content of 30% vol and more. The versatility of
Ansaldo Energia gas turbines allows for easy adaptation of the fuel system,
requiring limited changes of the already installed hardware configurations.
The capability to easily retrofit solutions for burning varying H2 content becomes
particularly important when H2 availability fluctuates due to intermittent production
from renewables. This expands plant operation horizons with no compromises on efficiency or
performance. In addition, strikingly low NOx emissions levels ensure full environmental compliance.

GT26 Rating 2006 Retrofit solutions for GT26

and earlier:
Thanks to its sequential combustion architecture, GT26 enables an enhanced management of
• Up to 15% H2 content without
engine derating continuously increasing hydrogen content. Its well-known combustion stability and combustor
• Up to 30% H2 content with configuration (up to Rating 2006 and earlier) allow to burn hydrogen without any modification
minor engine derating and up to approximately 25%, without any compromise on power output and efficiency.
validation instrumentation
By implementing the latest SEV burner generation (post Rating 2006), the GT26 gas turbine can
operate with higher hydrogen content (30%) while maintaining emissions under control
and without jeopardizing efficiency or power output. Higher hydrogen content can also
be achieved while only partially compromising on cycle performance.
GT26 Post Rating 2006:
• Up to 30% H2 content without
engine derating Retrofit solution for AE/V94.2 / AE/V94.3A /
Higher contents can be achieved
with minor hardware adaptation STG5-2000E / SGT5-4000F
and/or derating
Ansaldo Energia’s portfolio of single-stage hydrogen combustion solutions employs an
extremely versatile technology allowing an easy retrofitting on the entire installed fleet of AE/
V94.3A, AE/V94.2, STG5-2000E & SGT5-4000F gas turbines. Current and future customers are
therefore offered a unique opportunity to convert their plant assets to run on hydrogen up to and
beyond 25% with minimal hardware changes. Ansaldo Energia can thus help customers embracing the
world’s new energy trends.

GT
load%
100
25 ppm NOX
15 ppm NOX

NOW AVAILABLE NEXT TARGET

Combustion setting Improved combustion

optimization system
25 40 H2%vol

Via N. Lorenzi, 8 - 16152 Genoa - Italy - Tel: +39 010 6551 - Fax: +39 010 655 3411 - info@ansaldoenergia.com - ansaldoenergia.com